Richey is expected to arrive in Edinburgh on Wednesday, after flying back to the UK on Tuesday, said his lawyer, Ken Parsigian.

He was due to stay with his brother on Monday night.

Appearing before the court, smartly dressed, but in handcuffs, Richey entered a plea of no contest - which is not an admission of guilt - to attempted involuntary manslaughter, child endangering and breaking and entering.

Prosecutors claimed Richey, who has always protested his innocence, had started the fire as a jealous attack on his former girlfriend and her new lover, who lived in the flat beneath.

He refused a plea bargain which would have led to an 11-year sentence for arson and manslaughter.